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Books I Wish Were Around When I Was Younger

Sep 8, 2020

This week I share the books that I wish were around when I was younger. Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.

I’ve been constantly reading for a long time now. I read a lot when I was younger, but from the age of about 12, I read nearly every day. Like I do now. But books have changed over time, so today I’m sharing the books that I wish I had around when I was younger.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: There should be no surprise that that has made my list. It’s one of my favourite books of all time and I recommend it to anyone and everyone. It’s also such an important book. I believe that if I read this when I was in my early teens it would have had such a big impact of my life. It would have driven me a whole lot more.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo: I just finished this one and it was fantastic. It’s honest and real. It’s heartbreaking at times but it’s also uplighting. This would have packed such a punch if I read it a couple of years ago. I know I would have fallen just as love with it as I am now.

This is How We Change the Ending by Vikki Wakefield: This book made me feel so many things from anger to hope. From sadness to being proud. This is just a poignant story, that it would have hit home if I was able to read it when I was 15/16 for sure.

Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz: Being able to read about disability so easy would have been fantastic when I was younger. Especially when my health was changing a lot and I was in and out of the hospital. I like this book a lot and it looks at chronic illness is such an honest and real way.

Dear Martin (Dear Martin #1) by Nic Stone: While this is an emotional read and would have hit me right in the guts. But it’s also an incredible read that is impactful and powerful. It explored the injustices of the world and why the #BlackLivesMatter movement is so important to understand.

What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume: This is another one that I enjoyed reading, but if I read it, even a few years ago when I was younger. It would have hit differently. It would have been something that been something that I absorbed a lot.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo: I know I have already included one of her books. But I want to include this one for another reason. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I got into poetry and spoken world more. But if I read this one in my teens, I would have discovered it earlier – and a whole other band of books.

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde: This is another one that looks at mental health in an honest and real way. But it also looks at being a geek and how it’s not a bad thing. It’s a positive light. It’s about being who you are and not letting anyone tell you aren’t you. I was already out of high school a few years before this one came out and a little earlier would have been amazing.

How It Feels to Float by Helena Fox: This one looks at mental health in an honest and real way. It would have been something that I would have loved to read when I was younger. Reading fiction books that discuss mental health in the way that How It Feels To Float does is rare.

And that is it for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday! Have you read any of these books? What do you think of my list? Let’s Chat!

Books that Make Me Hungry

Sep 1, 2020

This week I’m sharing the books that make me hungry. Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.

If you don’t know I love to cook. It’s one of my favourite things to do. I love cooking and trying all new things. So whenever there is food in books. I’m kinda all there. So today I’m sharing the books that have made me hungry. And in saying that, it doesn’t take much. Like always these are in no order.

The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling by Wai Chim: There should be no surprise that this one has made it onto my list. Not only is this a fabulous book. It makes me so hungry. And hungry for one of my favourite foods. I love dumplings. When things were normal Ely and I would go out for dumplings very regularly. I just love it.

Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu: If these graphic novels don’t make you hungry then I don’t know what will. And these are worse because there are visuals. I’m not even a big pie person, but gosh damn these books make me hungry.

Humbugged (Happy Cat #4) by Pippa Grant and Lili Valente: While I didn’t love this book. It did make me really hungry. But I guess that’s what happens when the protagonist works in a bakery.

Bittersweet (True North #1) by Sarina Bowen: While also loving this book a lot. This book and in reality this whole series always makes me hungry. And most of the time it’s just fruit, but Bowen just makes me want to eat it all. There are also some other amazing foods mentioned. And I love it.

Ride Hard (Raven Riders #1) by Laura Kaye: Haven makes so much food in this book that I just want to eat it all. Again it’s more on the sweet side. But I don’t care. I just want it all.

Marked (Sailor’s Grave #1) by Drew Elyse: What is it with protagonists working in a bakery? But you know what I don’t care. This book makes me hella hungry. I just think about the cupcakes all the time.
Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler: If you can’t tell by the cover alone that this book will make you hungry, I don’t know what to say. I love this book so much. And I love how food plays a part in this novel. If you haven’t read this one, or anything Sarah Ockler, please do.

Frankie by Shivaun Plozza: I mean out protagonist lives about a kebab shop. I think that is all that needs to be said. Kebabs are one of my favourite foods out there and this just makes me hungry. And crave a kebab even more.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer: This is another one of these books, that while I didn’t love the book. It sure did make me hungry. I loved how good was explored and described in this one a lot.

And that is it for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday? What are books that make you hungry? Do we share any that is the same? Let’s Chat!

My Current Favourite Authors | TTT

Aug 25, 2020

This week I’m sharing my current favourite authors. Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.

I did change this week’s topic just a little because I thought this would be more fun – and I have an intense migraine. But it was originally ‘Questions I Would Ask My Favourite Authors’.
I read a lot differently now than I did even 3 or 4 years ago. So, I thought it was time to share some of my current favourite authors. One of the things that I love is the range books and genre my favourite authors write. Anyway, let’s get into it.

Cassandra Clare: I don’t think there is any doubt in any of your minds that Cassie was going to make it to my list. Cassandra Clare has been one of my favourite authors for quite some time now and I don’t think it will change any time soon. I’ve just got my youngest sister reading her books now and we have some fantastic chats with our mum about it. I just love the world, the characters and everything in between.

Lisa Kleypas: This is another one that I don’t think you should be surprised with. I’ve read so many of her books now and I’ve pretty much loved nearly all of them. Her characters are just fantastic, and I love the way that she writes. One of my favourite things though is the way that she connects not only characters, but series.

Rebecca Yarros: I’ve been reading Rebecca Yarros for some time now and love every book that I’ve read. I’ve read nearly all her books now and they have all been 4 stars or above. Yarros knows how to write fantastic characters that have such good character arcs. I have also cried in nearly everyone that I have read. She just knows how to tear me apart – and every time I fail.

Rick Riordan: The only male author on this list, but also no surprise. I adore Rick Riordan. I love what he does, what he writes and everything else in between. His characters are brilliant and relatable. He writes plots that are entertaining, and I won’t stop reading the things that he writes.

Ellie Marney: Ellie has to be my favourite Australian authors. I’ve read nearly all her books now and loved then all. If you haven’t picked up an Ellie Marney book yet and you enjoy crime and thrillers especially YA ones – then do.

Beverly Jenkins: This is a new author to my list, but I had to add her because I’ve loved everything that I have read. Her historical romances are entertaining, full of banter and just what I always need. I can’t wait to read even more of her books. If you love reading historical romances and want something a little different – this is a good place to start.

And those are some of my current favourite authors. Do we share any that are the same? Who are yours? Let’s Chat!